Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-06-10
JESSE JAMES.

JESSE JAMES.
Visit to the Great Outlaws Home in Clay
County, Mo.
Globs- Democrat.
Yesterday Globe Democrat CORE
spondent, In company with his best girl,
visited the home of Mrs. ZereIda Samuels,
mother of the James boys, in the northern
part of this CLAY county, fifteen miles
north of here aud three miles east of
Kearney. The Samuels farm is one of
the best in the county. To the west and
south beautiful and extensive bluegrass
pastures lie, with lowing herds grazing
thereon, while northward the country is
heavily timbered, with many by-paths
| leading through, ofttimes travelled by
Frank and jesse in the midnight hours,
| when visiting their old home. The Sam
uels house Is one-story structure, with
the exception of the front, which has q
small attic room, above, with small win
dows, which having been described in the
past as ''port holes" through which Jesse
| and Frank would pour forth their deadly
volley on all who might dare attempt their
capture. The 81" is long and contains
four rooms, with porch extending along
the south side. The house fronts east
| and was bailt in the early days; and its
design was such as was quite fashionable
/ in the pioneer times.
! On arriving at the house, and after
! tlmidly knocking at the door, Mrs. Sam
uels opened it and kindly invited US in,
where were seated her son John and wife
and daughter, and her husband, with their
! families, they having gathered there to
/ spend and enjoy the bright beautiful Sab
! bath day.
MRS. sAMUELs.
| Mrs. SamuelS was quite laxative from
/ the first, and was not at all reticent or re-
| served in her conversation during the
! stay of two hours. She is large, p ortly
! woman, close OH to 6 feet tall, very grace
| full and easy in her bearing. Her hsa
! is covered with silver gray locks, which
| add much to her attractive appearance.
Her eyes are steel gray and continually
moving in their sockets, closely observ-
! ing everything, though in such way as
| to be hardly noticeable. Her presence
and appearance indicate lady of more
than ordinary intelligence. She is 60
years of age.
She talked of Jesse and Frank, as to
how they had lived and the many means
and ways that were employed in attempt
ing to effect their capture, but at no
time did she speak harshly or exhibit any
ill-feeling toward those that made the
efforts. Not even in speaking of Robert
Ford or of the night when her home was
raided by Pinkerton's and of detectives,
and a hand grenade, wrapped in an old
gunny-sack saturated with oil, was
thrown through the window, and on ex-
ID i L. e 10 ~
as well as her own arm.
do you miss the loss of your arm as
much az at frst?"
eyes, more / believe, as | grow older.
But there is another loss that suffered
that feel more-that robbed me of
much sunshine-the loss of my fair,
sweet young boy. He was eight years
of age, and he would often say to me:
Mamma, isn't 1t strange that both the
men | was named after were kiIle d p His
name was Archie Payton, Jesse having
christened him after two of his guerrilla
friends who were killed. And the poor
little fellow was killed, too. The James
boys were not at home that night
In speaking of both Frank and Jesse.
Mrs. Samuels would invariably say the
James boys"
Part of the hand grenade she has in
her possession yet.
STOLEN VISITS TO HONE.
How often would the boys come to
! to see your she was asked.
Not very frequently. Frank was
away once for four years; that was while
he was in Tennessee. Eighteen months
was the longest period Jesse evsr re-
manned away. He would come home and
say, mother, 1 could not stay any longer
| without coming to see you and the old
home for little Bit They would always
come in the night and only remain day
or so. l would never know when they
were coming, nor did l over hear from
them when away. My mail, of course was
! closely watched"
Did any officers ever come here when
they were at homer"
eyes, twice. Once Capt. Thomson
and son Oscar, present Sheriff of this
county, came here and Jesse was at home.
They inquired for jesse, but l kept talk
ing to them and inviting them in, trying
to delay them as much as possible. jesse,
in the meantime, was gong out a back
window across to the barn and making
for the woods. They discovered him and
followed in his pursuit, and engaged in a
sharp encounter, thirty shots being ex
changed. Capt. ThOmason's horse was
| killed while he was standing behind it
shooting. Jesse told him that he did
not want to kill hi n, though he could,
and would if be followed further. He re-
| turned to the house and rode favorite
| horse of Jesse's away. Jesse came back
shortly afterward, and when he learned
the horse had been taken he was very
angry, and followed, yowing he would
kill Capt. Thomson if he overlook him,
though he did not wish to do SO before.
Jesse told me often afterward these two
men were as brave men as he ever met.
Another time Capt. John S. Grooms,
sheriff of this county at the time, came
here whsn Jesse was at home, but his
presence was not discovered"
! FRANK JAMES SURRENDER.
Mrs Samuels spoke of many unkind
things that had been said of her; of how
| her true character had been misunder-
stood or misrepresented by the world.
| She said:
81 know that the James boys have done
wrong, or done things they should not
| have done, but they were driven to it by
that cruel and bloody war, and then out
lawed and not permitted to settle down
and live the lives of orderly citizens.
Jesse wrote to three governors, McClurg,
! Woodson and Phelps, asking if protec
ton from mob violence would be guaraD-
| teed should he surrender. He was willing
| to be tried for all charges that might be
brought against him. He never received
any reply from any of them. I have
often regretted that 1 did not go person
| ally TO see them, especially after 1 visited
! Gov. Crittenden, after Jesse's death, to
make terms and conditions for Franks
! surrender. l think since Franks su-ren-
! der his conduct and citizenship have been
such as to win approval and respect"
We then walked out to Jesse's grave in
| the southwest corner of of the yard.
! There quietly rests the earthly remains
| of a man whose deeds and acts gained
! for him worldwide notoriety; one who
| baffleed the skill of the best detective
| agencies on the continent, and the men
ton of even his very name would send
| terror to she hearts of the timid. On
| the grave bloom flowers that drink up
| the dew from heaven; myrtle vines climb
| round the seashells that are scattered
here and there, while overhead in the
| trees, the song birds are nesting and
are wsrbling their sweet notes of
| spring.
Upon the tomb is very simply in